Became the Villainess’s Guardian

Avoiding heat is a primal human instinct.
Moreover, the sweltering indoor conditions of summer where one must contend with scorching machinery can be aptly described as Satan’s armpits – a veritable inferno.

Though far from inexpensive, investors who had personally experienced its might during the previous performance presentation readily opened their wallets.
Yet perhaps because it originated from the previously unheralded Ceres Palace, the absolute numbers seemed few, despite appearing substantial.

While newspaper advertisements could help, extolling energy efficiency or output would be ineffective in a world hitherto unfamiliar with air conditioning.
Ultimately, people placed the most trust in post-usage reviews and their consequent influence.

And having started my career at an ill-ventilated textile factory, I understood this plight better than anyone.
So in a marketing endeavor, I first made the rounds at Ceres Palace’s existing clientele.

“Hey, it’s quitting time.”

“……”

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to clock out? Why the long face?”

“But it’s too hot outside……”

“I had a hunch you’d say that, so I’ve prepared a suggestion. How about some overtime work?”

“Ah, that would be great! And I can earn extra money too. I shall dedicate my life to this dream job!”

“Exactly, voluntary overtime is welcomed!”

“24-hour operations, how generous!”

“Hmm, I may have created it, but still……”

That was the extent of it.
The post-usage reviews were simply perfect. Diligently promoted with five-star ratings and repurchase intentions.

With no one collapsing from heat exhaustion, productivity naturally rose. And with less fatigue accumulating, believe it or not, people voluntarily worked longer hours.
The only downside was consuming the electricity generated by fire mages furiously boiling water to spin turbines, but comparing input to output would be unconscionably rude.

And after experiencing two summers, even third parties could roughly grasp the effectiveness of this modern marvel.

Thus, when the seasonal cycle turned and the performance presentation reconvened in August,
Ceres Palace drew an even larger crowd than the previous year – indicative of the heightened interest.

Development and invention formed a golden spire built upon the legacy of predecessors.
Countless trial and error was inevitable, and at times, even sacrifice was required – much like fugu sashimi recipes.

I was convinced.
Had I been born fifty years earlier, this would not have been possible. Even when my arm had charred black during an experiment, I would not have recovered if not for the regenerative abilities akin to a planarian.

But I was not born fifty years earlier, being of a similar species.

“Allow me to introduce to our investors.”

“Ooh……”

“The compact refrigerators released just in time for this summer season.”

I had made reality what was once merely conceptual imagination.

‘Compact’ was relative – these units could easily fit three adults. But compared to the big sizes previously reserved for upscale hotels or industries sensitive to temperature fluctuations, they qualified as compact.
In any case, if it could be brought indoors, it was sufficiently compact. And it didn’t consume excessive electricity either.

“But most households still lack access to electricity, so how does this work?”

“An astute observation. Thus, we are also separately selling dedicated batteries.”

“Ah, I see.”

“So where can we procure these batteries?”

Where else but the shops affiliated with Ceres Palace?
I had expended three fingers in pursuit of high output at the lab. If fresh ingredients were desired, a price had to be paid for such dedication…

Before the investors, I declared the sustainable battery sales initiative and was met with thunderous applause in response.

After reviewing this summer’s performance, Freyja had a perpetual smile plastered on her face.

“The electromagnetism boom has finally arrived…! No more delayed salary payments!”

“How many times was it delayed?”

“Well, the deficit levels had become dangerously high, so some delays were unavoidable……”

“Ah, that’s right. I should have mentioned this earlier. The Franctoire Palace recently offered me a job transfer. Would you mind if I take on a side gig?”

And after she broke down crying about how Ceres would crumble without me, she deposited a bonus into my bank account.
Ceres Palace had revived, my salary increased, people enjoyed cool comfort, and a happy ending for all.

A bonus deposit signified improved performance.
And improved performance meant the Ceres Palace shares I held had traced a beautiful upward curve.

Part of the proceeds from this money-printing endeavor went towards extracurricular research projects.
Like the decidedly non-military tractor, or the munitions company I separately invested in.

And even after deducting living expenses, stock trading losses, Freugne’s sponsorship, and orphanage donations, a sizable amount remained.

Ordinarily, these leftover funds would have gone into the dream underground bunker I had constructed in a rural mountain valley.

“So this is what’s left over…?”

“Suddenly I’m feeling motivated. Let’s take a vacation before embarking on the next project.”

“But where did you plan to go?”

“It seems I’ll need to travel around to establish a charitable foundation.”

The time for image management had gradually arrived.
Even if not for that reason, charitable work itself was fulfilling. And since I lacked the knack for stock investing, repeatedly taking losses, this seemed a better use of funds.

More than anything, I did not wish to remain a mere magician for life.
If I hoped to make any impact on this world hurtling towards ruin, I would need to secure an appropriate position first.

“And make some appearances at academic societies while I’m at it.”

In short.
Rumor had it the Royal Academy was finally mentioning my name in recognition of my contributions to saving humanity.

For children still lacking discernment, admiration and envy are emotions separated by a mere paper’s thickness.

But this was different from being confined to the cramped East End orphanage.

The personal network that had once extended at most to neighboring production lines had vastly expanded, naturally cultivating social graces like a thread following a needle’s path.

While this had been Edan’s intention, it also meant the observable futures had significantly increased.
And if one possessed insights into others’ private lives and preferences unknown to anyone else, earning goodwill became the easier feat.

Having realized how vastly larger the sliver of sky she had endlessly gazed at from the depths of that well truly was, Freugne had finally become whole.

“Until now, no one has stood above this class.”

“Well, it was just too much trouble. And hardly necessary.”

“But that unbearable vacancy as class leader has now ended.”

“I shall stand above the class.”

“Where did you even pick up such phrasing?”

“…From you, mister?”

Though perhaps an unorthodox lesson, like a parent serving as a child’s mirror.
In any case, that was how it transpired.

Of course, this was not a gathering aimed at waging turf wars against delinquents from neighboring schools to claim dominance over the East Londinium area…

Freugne was self-aware that her personal prowess was hardly exceptional.

After all, extorting measly tolls from snotty brats a few years younger on the streets would hardly provide more amusement than petty pocket money at best.
More importantly, word of such antics would undoubtedly reach Edan’s ears before long.

In fact, it had been a form of personal reassurance.
A self-convincing argument that she would not grow up to repay Edan with ungrateful treachery.

Hence, investing in stocks and the like seemed more prudent.
For was this not a battle others could never win against her ability to glimpse the future – the first application that would naturally come to mind?

“Indeed, developing economic foresight is important. But what you do with your allowance is none of my concern.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“However, investing always carries the risk of loss, so exercise caution. Heed my words well.”

“Erm……”

Freugne refrained from voicing how his minus 82 percent track record hardly inspired confidence.
Perhaps embarrassed himself, Edan smoothly helped Freugne submit the paperwork with her slender hands to open a Londinium Stock Exchange account.

And the funds invested across Ceres Palace, other palaces, and miscellaneous companies proceeded to swell considerably.
While still a modest sum, having started from a mere allowance, it would become quite substantial after another five years.

From a rational perspective, her newly acquainted peers whom she had known for just over a year could hardly play any significant role.
To put it bluntly, they were essentially an oversized neighborhood watch group. At most, they currently roamed the East Londinium streets shouting ‘fire’ indiscriminately – a far cry from the future she had glimpsed years ahead.

But it didn’t matter.
Freugne was patient, and she had no immediate need for their services anyway.

Instead.

“James.”

“Hm?”

“You mentioned your father is a police superintendent with the metropolitan force?”

“Yeah, that’s right. He’s been grumbling about his long-overdue promotion.”

Their parents were a different story.
After about a year, she could easily discern her friends’ parents’ occupations.

It wasn’t anything illegal or unethical, after all.
No, one could even say it was a contribution to the public good. She was unperturbed.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. He says accomplishments are needed… but I don’t really know!”

“Then he’d probably appreciate more work opportunities.”

So when an upstanding citizen happened to uncover potential crimes and discreetly reported them anonymously out of shyness, it would undoubtedly be welcomed.

On a lazy afternoon with Edan away at work, leaving the house empty,
As Freugne pondered how to begin the letter, she eventually acknowledged that since it would be sent anonymously, the preamble would hardly impact its persuasiveness.

She simply abandoned persuasion and opted to candidly list the times and locations of various incidents occurring in Londinium.

What did persuasiveness matter? If the information consistently proved accurate, it would earn credibility on its own.
Behaving unnaturally would only arouse suspicion. After deliberately writing the letter with her left hand, Freugne slipped it into the mailbox.

And with the start of the new semester, a certain police superintendent serving in the Londinium Metropolitan Police Department received what amounted to cheat codes for navigating life that day.